Cruising Manual Highlights

Ministry of Forests & Range

2009

Cruising Manual - June 1, 2009

Cruising Manual Web Site: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hva/manuals/cruising/index.htm

Cruise Compilation Manual Web Site:http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hva/manuals/cruisecompilation/index.htm

MoFR Web Site – ‘What’s New’ Subscription:http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/pscripts/pab/whatsnew/index.asp?pm=sub

Cruising Manual - June 1, 2009

PAST – December 17, 2008 Amendment #1

PRESENT – June 1, 2008 Manuals

FUTURE – Autumn 2009 Amendment #1

Cruising Manual – December 17, 2008

PAST

Section 2.1.2 – The minimum average tree count was reduced from 5.0 to 4.0 trees/plot for cruises that did not meet the minimum sampling error requirement.

Section 2.1.2 (2) - Section revised so that a 100m grid spacing replaces 1.0 plots/ha for cruises that do not meet the minimum sampling error requirement.

Cruising Manual – December 17, 2008

PAST

Section 2.1.2.1(4) – The Schedule B replaces the site plan as the source document for the leave tree requirements.

Section 2.2.2.1 – The procedure for establishing the first plot on the cruise grid is revised to commence from the most south-westerly point on the block.

Cruising Manual – December 17, 2008

PAST

Section 3.5.9 – The forest cover age classes from Mapview or the most recent inventory maps are used to determine the tree classes for Lodgepole pine trees in the interior.

Licensees may continue to drill tree ages if they requested an exemption from the MoFR District office by January 31, 2009. The exemption will expire on January 31, 2010.

Cruising Manual – December 17, 2008

PAST

Section 3.3.3.1(6) – A check standard was added to indicate that inventory types will be used to adjudicate Lodgepole pine tree classes. At least 95% of Pl trees must be in the correct immature and mature classes for the loss factors.

Cruising Manual - June 1, 2009

PRESENT

Section 2.2.2.1(2) - Change the reference to 2.1.2 (4) to 2.1.2 (3).

Section 4.6.1 - The required/optional reports in section 4.6.1 will state:

Upon the request of the MoFR, the licensee will provide the percent reduction cruise compilation instructions. There is not a fixed format for the submission.

Cruising Manual - June 1, 2009

PRESENT

Table 17 - Update Table 17 to allow FIZ H and I in the Babine PSYU.

Appendix 2 – The magnetic declination tables are updated to April, 2009.

Cruising Manual - June 1, 2009

PRESENT

Appendix A.4.2 - Change the second sentence in A.4.2 to read:

COAST: Pathological indicators must be recorded on all live and dead potential trees.

INTERIOR: Pathological indicators must be recorded on all live trees and on dead potential White Pine, Hemlock and Balsam trees.  Conk and blind conk must be recorded on all dead potential Lodgepole Pine trees.

Cruise Compilation Manual - June 1, 2009

PRESENT

Add the following text to the valid cruise compilation version web site:

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hva/manuals/validcompversions.htm

Version 2008.00 of the cruise compilation programs will be allowed for appraisal cruises until June 30, 2009 unless:

1 – The cruise compilation contains mature timber for a coastal appraisal and the log grades will be used in the appraisal in which case version 2009.00 must be used.

2 – The cruise compilation is in the portion of the Babine PSYU that is within Forest Inventory Zone H in which case version 2009.00 must be used.

Cruise Compilation Manual - June 1, 2009

PRESENT

Version Number - 2009.00 will be reported on all cruise compilation reports.

Section 2.7.1 - Update the accepted values column for the harvesting method codes as follows:

Refer to Chapter 13 for the list of valid harvesting method codes.

Cruise Compilation Manual - June 1, 2009

PRESENT

Section 3.2.1 – Steps 5 and 6 in the cruise compilation sequence will be switched so that the double sampling ratios are applied before the percent reductions. This change is necessary to accommodate the use of count plots in partial harvest cruise compilations.

Cruise Compilation Manual - June 1, 2009

Section 2.2.4 – Messages - Allow FIZ H and I for the Babine PSYU consistent with Mapview.

Section 5.4.1 - The acceptable values for the block in Table 5.4.1 are Blank and XXX.

Cruising Manual – Autumn, 2009

FUTURE

New Section 2.1.3.1- Mountain Pine Beetle Cruise Based Stumpage Assessment

A MPB damaged stand is defined as any cut block containing greater than or equal to 35% of the all species, net merchantable volume reported as MPB red and or grey attack. The timber types must be unique to the blocks.

A new MPB Cruise Based Sales Policy will be developed in concert with this change.

Objectives of MPB CB Sales

• DRAFT: The decision to implement CB sales in MPB has NOT been confirmed.

• Address Pl grade 4 scale concerns.

• Increase industry/government efficiencies.

• Support stewardship.

Overview of CB Sales

• Rate is determined the same as scale based.

• Stand-as-a-whole stumpage based on cruise net merchantable volume, billed monthly based on area felled.

• Scaling and waste may not be required.

• If the stand = MPB = must be CB.

MPB Cruise Based Sampling Standards

Implementation date for MPB Cruise Base Standards are currently under review:

Two possible scenarios: 1) MPB Cruise Standards effective June ? for appraisal submission in early fall.

2) MPB Cruise Standards effective in early fall to coincide with appraisal.

MPB Cruise Based Sampling Standards

• All blocks = 35% of all appraised species net merchantable volume = red or grey attack Pl post % reduction.

• Types unique to a block.

• 12% SEE @ 95% for the CP.

• Minimum standard = FM plots at least 250m*250 m grid or 6.25 ha: any number of count plots.

• Waive SE = 100 m * 100 m FM.

MPB Cruise Based Sampling Standards

• No minimum tree count if SEE met.

• No aging of PL.

• All MPB CB Cutting Authorities will use the standard interior merchantability or the specifications unique to the license for billing.

Transition Policies

• CPs where no harvesting has occurred or stumpage rate is set can be surrendered.

If 35% RG is achieved = SEE waived.

• CPs that are partially harvested must remain scale based.

Cut Control

• Cut control will be based on cruise net merchantable volume of grades 1, 2 & 4 and as appropriate grade 6.

• TSA/TFL scale grade 3/5 credits will be applied.

• Cut Control Reg. – Sect 17 (6)A grade 4 credit will continue to apply to processing plants that do not produce lumber or veneer.

MPB Billing

• Licensees to use existing FS699 billing form and process.

• Area billed = area felled & submitted monthly.

• Licensees to provide estimates of grade by species for billing in HBS (historic grade profile). Process under development.

The End